Engine-lathe.



Patented Aug. I3, |90I. W. LUDGE.

ENGINE LATHE.

(Application led May 6. 1901.)

SM@ l my l m du, /J

mmm

we mums vcfsns co. Pworaurrgo.. WASHINGTON. b. c,

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM LODGE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LODGE & SIIIPLEY MACHINE TOOL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ENGINE-LATH E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,606, dated Augustl, 1901.

Application filed May 6, 190]..r SerielNo. 58,990. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of .Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Lathes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the construction and arrangement of the bed and apron of an engine-lathe, whereby the parts are improved in strength and efficiency and the operation rendered more perfect.

My invention is an improvement along the lines of my previous invention shown, described, and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 643,190, granted February 13, 1900.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a horizontal section of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional vertical section through the apron and bed, showing my improvement. Fig. 3 is an inside elevation of the apron detached from the bed, showing my improvement attached to the apron. Fig. 4 is an end View of the pinion shown in Fig. 2 for engaging the rack of the bed.

A represents the lathe-bed; B, the carriage; B', the apron; O, thebed-rails for the carriage, and E the rack on the lathe-bed.

F represents the spur-gear constituting one of the train of apron-gears, which are driven from the lead-screw D. The connecting-train of gears is not shown, as it forms no part of this invention.

Grepresents the pinion for engaging the rack and driving the apron. This pinion is constructed as follows: I represents the hub of the gear-Wheel F, the said hub journaling in the apron B. Fitting within this hub, so as to be longitudinally movable therein, is this driving-pinion G, mounted upon a stud H, but keyed to the said hub I. By means of this stud II the gear may be longitudinally thrown into or out of mesh with the rack by projecting the said stud and gear from the hub I or by withdrawing them, the said pinion G being fixed to turn with gear F. By

this means when the lead-screw is in engagement with the half-nuts for screw-cutting this gear G may be withdrawn into and housed within the hub I of the gear F and so disconnected from the rack otherwise the move-V ment of the apron on the bed Would 'cause the gear to revolve idly, this pinion G and the gear F, as well as the intervening train of gears between the lead-screw and gear F, causing noise, wear, and waste motion.

J represents a rail formed on the lathe-bed under the rack and projected laterally.

K represents an L-shaped bracket having the tread L formed thereon engaging and riding on the said rail. This L-shaped bracket is placed with the tread formed in the face and abutting the adjacent side of the lathebed. The front end of the L-shaped bracket is'bolted to the depending apron B. The upper face of this bracket opposing the inside of the apron is parallel therewith and also parallel with the vertical edge of the lathe-bed and forms a journal for the studs on which the pinion G journals, and also other pinions of the driving mechanism are j ournaled in said face of the bracket K. (See Fig. 3.) This bracket-face abutting the lathebed is elongated to form these bearings for the gears-say l, G, and 3. (See Fig. 3.)

The efficiency of the operation, as well as the strength of the parts, it will be seen, is greatly increased by this construction. The travel of the apron is absolutely uniform. Any strain imparted to the apron by the enf gagement of the pinion with the rack is transmitted to this L-shaped bracket K and resisted or borne by the rail on the lathe-bed. As both the inner and the outer bearings of the train of gears and pinions for guiding the apron are thus taken by the bracket K and sustained by the lathe-bed, it follows that all of this working strain is removed completely from the apron and its depending plate. The travel of the parts is entirely true and free from Vibration and undue wear from strain on unsupported parts.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. In an engine-lathe, a lathe-bed provided with a raok,-a sliding carriage mounted upon IOO the bed, provided with a depending apron, driving devices supported thereon engaging the rack, a longitudinal rail supported on the bed in the line of carriage travel, and a bracket formed with a tread engaging said rail, the said bracket being bolted to the apron at a position horizontally opposite said rail, thereby forming a lateral brace between the bed and lower end of the depending apron, substantially as specified.

2. In an engine-lathe, a lathe-bed, a rack, a sliding carriage on the bed, an apron, driving devices supported thereon engaging the rack, a longitudinal rail supported on the lathe-bed in the line of travel of the carriage, and an L-shaped bracket formed with a tread engaging the rail having a vertically-extending leaf in which the inner ends of one or more of'the apron-driving devices are journaled, and having a horizontally-extended limb secured to the apron, substantially as specified.

3. In an engine-lathe, a lathe-bed provided with a rack, a sliding carriage mounted thereon, an apron, driving mechanism supported on the apron engaging the rack, a longitudinal rail on the lathe-bed in the line of carriage travel, and a bracket formed with a tread engaging the rail and extending upwardly to form a bearing for one or more of the driving devices carried by the apron, substantially as specified.

4. In an engine-lathe, the combination of a lathe-bed provided with a rack, a sliding carriage mounted on said bed, an apron, the driving-gear G journaled within the apron, a longitudinal rail supported on the bed in the line of carriage travel, a bracket formed with a tread engaging the rail, the bracket extending upwardly substantially parallel with the side of the lathe-bed, and having a bearing or bearings for one or more of the apron-driving devices, and a pinion G fixed within the hub of the gear-Wheel Fto turn therewith, and means for extending the said pinion from the hub into engagement with the rack and into engagement with the bearing formed in the bracket, and to be retracted and housed Withinthe hub of the gear F, whereby the driving devices of the apron may be thrown out of driving relation with the rack when the said carriage is being propelled by the lead-screw, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM LODGE. lVitnesses:

OLIVER B. KAISER, PEARL McMIoHAEL. 

